Marla Rose

“I’d think about going vegan but it’s too expensive.” How many times have we heard someone express a sentiment like this or imply that eating being vegan is just for the affluent? How often have we ourselves thought, “Well, I’m spending more now but I will make up for it with my lack of medical bills.” (I hope.) Truth be told, it is more expensive to eat fresh, whole foods than to eat off of dollar menus — at least at the outset, because a diet high in animal products can be quite expensive to us down the road – but there are ways to cut that back while not sacrificing an emphasis on unprocessed, natural foods. Here are some simple but effective strategies for cutting back on your food expenses. Excerpted from this article on Vegan Street, where you’ll find 10 additional strategies for being a frugal vegan!

This potato kugel (which is a baked pudding or a casserole) is reminiscent of my grandmother’s, but I kicked up the nutritional profile a bit with the inclusion of sweet potatoes and taking out the eggs. This version is less rich but still full of potato-y comfort, a cross between hashed browns and scalloped potatoes, and a great side dish at a Passover meal. Being gluten-free, I omitted the traditional matzo meal, but feel free to add that as described if you have no issues with wheat. By the way, a mandolin slicer works great for getting the potatoes into uniform matchsticks. Recipe and photo contributed by Maria Rose fromVegan Street.

Review contributed by Marla Rose,Vegan Street. Is salad an often overlooked culinary art form? According toone creative cookbook, yes. A second book has just been released that seconds the “Heck, yeah, vegan salads!” sentiment and it comes from accomplished cookbook authorTerry Hope Romero.